★ Very Rare ★

A LARGE ROMAN FOOT WITH A CALCEUS PATRICIUS
Circa 1st century AD.
A left foot and lower leg from a large statuette wearing a calceus patricius, a closed boot featuring leather straps (corrigiae) that were wrapped around the ankle and leg and tied at the front in two knots with the ends hanging down loosely. This kind of shoes were worn by members of the Roman elite. The choice of footwear therefore informs us that the person represented was someone of high rank, probably from the equestrian or senatorial order, or possibly even the emperor himself. The size of the foot indicates that the statuette was originally around 50 cm in height, and the remains of the lead doweling below the foot show that it was set on a base, probably made of stone. A rare and outstanding artefact.
L 72 mm, H 107 mm (total)

Private European collection. Before, A. B. collection, UK, 1970s-early 2000s.